Increased Access Available for Guadalupe River Trout Anglers

AUSTIN—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has signed temporary leased access agreements with four Guadalupe River property owners to expand free public fishing access to the trout fishery downstream of Canyon Reservoir. In addition, new access sites for anglers are slated to open on the Brazos, Neches and Colorado rivers in time for high-quality spring fishing opportunities.

Recognized as one of the top 100 trout streams in America and the southernmost trout stream in the United States, the Guadalupe River below Canyon Reservoir is the only stocked trout fishery in Texas where trout survive through the summer. Free fishing access to the trout fishery is now available at Whitewater Sports, Rio Raft and Resort and Mountain Breeze Campground. Additional free fishing access will be available at Camp Huaco Springs beginning December 7, 2012.

Site maps, specific conditions for angler use at each site (including any special fishing regulations), and a link to the trout stocking schedule and locations can be found on the TPWD River Fishing web page http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/rivers/. Trout stockings are scheduled for this segment of the Guadalupe River on Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28 and Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Two of the four fishing access areas have special fishing regulations for rainbow and brown trout.

Additional leased fishing access areas will open along the Brazos, Colorado, and Neches rivers in time for high-quality spring fishing opportunities. The new angler access area on the Brazos River will be located upstream of Waco and provide excellent fishing opportunities for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and catfish. Already a popular fishing destination among fly anglers that target largemouth bass, the Colorado River access area will provide increased access for anglers downstream of Lady Bird Lake in Austin. The Neches River site will provide access to the popular spring white bass run at the State Highway 31 bridge crossing immediately upstream of Lake Palestine.

Directions to these new angler access areas and information on special conditions on use will be available soon on the TPWD River Fishing webpage at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/recreational/rivers/

These new leased fishing access areas were made possible with grant funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.